Learning Membership Functions in a Function-Based Object Recognition System

Functionality-based recognition systems recognize objects at the category level by reasoning about how well the objects support the expected function. Such systems naturally associate a ``measure of goodness'' or ``membership value'' with a recognized object. This measure of goodness is the result of combining individual measures, or membership values, from potentially many primitive evaluations of different properties of the object's shape. A membership function is used to compute the membership value when evaluating a primitive of a particular physical property of an object. In previous versions of a recognition system known as Gruff, the membership function for each of the primitive evaluations was hand-crafted by the system designer. In this paper, we provide a learning component for the Gruff system, called Omlet, that automatically learns membership functions given a set of example objects labeled with their desired category measure. The learning algorithm is generally applicable to any problem in which low-level membership values are combined through an and-or tree structure to give a final overall membership value.Comment: See http://www.jair.org/ for any accompanying file

Faceglued Blockboard from Low-Grade Northern Hardwoods

Blockboard is a form of lumber core plywood, the latter a product that has for years been used in the United States and Canada in furniture and cabinet manufacture. A unique manufacturing process and the fact that glulines in faceglued blockboard are found only between face veneers and core serve to distinguish this product from the typical lumber core panel. Blockboard panels have become increasingly popular in northern Europe in recent years, where they have found application in products such as industrial shelving, storage units, packing cases, doors and partitions, benching, work-tops, and even combination subflooring/underlayment.This report deals with a technical and economic evaluation of prospects for manufacture of blockboard panels from low-grade hardwoods of the United States. Faceglued blockboard was manufactured in various configurations from aspen (core) and elm (faces) and then evaluated as a general purpose structural panel. Test data indicate that blockboard panels made with a low-density hardwood core of short-length pieces would have strength and dimensional properties very similar to softwood plywood if manufactured to slightly greater thickness. Economic projections show that these thicker panels could be delivered to midwestern markets at a price very close to that of softwood plywood panels of comparable strength

Faceglued Blockboard—An Alternative to Plywood?

Faceglued blockboard, a European product similar to lumber core plywood (but with no edge gluing of core strips), was evaluated from both technical and economic perspectives as a general purpose structural panel. Blockboard was found to have strength and dimensional properties comparable to other wood-based structural sheet materials, though performance after accelerated aging suggests limits to exterior applications. Economic projections indicate little difference in costs of production between softwood plywood and blockboard

Environmental Implications of Wood Production in Intensively Managed Plantations

Although many of the issues raised about forest plantations are non-trivial, there are a number of significant environmental advantages of plantation establishment that appear to outweigh concerns, if plantation management practices can be developed to address concerns regarding sustainability. Foremost among the advantages is that establishment of highly productive forest plantations can provide large quantities of wood and fiber from relatively small land areas, raising the possibility that pressures for harvesting within natural forests can be markedly reduced. Moreover, assuming that forest plantations are carefully established and managed, they have the potential to produce a continuous, renewable stream of industrial raw materials that results in less overall environmental impact than other types of raw materials. Assessment of total environmental impacts over product life cycles shows that structural and nonstructural wood and wood fiber products made from plantation-derived raw material yield markedly lower impacts than similar products made from metallic, cementitious, petroleumbased, or other raw materials. Similarly, examination of total environmental impacts of papermaking fiber production in forest plantations versus fiber production using annual agricultural crops shows significant advantages to wood fiber. Thus, forest plantations can yield environmental benefits that extend well beyond the geographic location in which they are located

Motivation and attitudes toward changing health (MATCH): A new patient-reported measure to inform clinical conversations.

ObjectiveTo identify and assess patient motivation to initiate or maintain behavior changes.MethodsAttitudinal statements were developed from structured patient interviews and translated into 18 survey items. Items were analyzed with exploratory factor analysis (EFA).ResultsAn EFA with 340 type 2 diabetes patients identified three areas of patient attitudes toward changing health behaviors: (1) willingness to make changes (3 items; α = 0.69), (2) perceived ability to make or maintain changes (3 items; α = 0.74), and (3) and feeling changes are worthwhile (3 items; α = 0.61). Greater perceived ability and feelings of worthwhileness were associated with positive psychosocial and behavioral management indicators. All three areas were associated with confidence and attitudes toward making a specific behavioral change (e.g., improve diet).ConclusionsMATCH is an internally consistent and valid 9-item scale that provides a profile of factors influencing motivation that can be used in clinical and research settings

Addressing the Need for an Appropriate Adult Learning Environment to Increase Student Retention and Success

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) aims to transform a learning environment for adult learners who have faced trauma and have had negative educational experiences. The OIP seeks to identify barriers to learning and well-being for this group and develop effective strategies to create a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes learner retention, engagement, and empowerment. Through the lens of transformational and servant leadership, the OIP incorporates actionable steps, including the development of trauma-informed andragogy into daily practices and interactions with adult learners, the provision of training and support for faculty and staff to understand the needs of this group of learners, and the establishment of support systems to promote learner well-being and engagement. Ideas and information gathered from experts, and existing literature will inform the OIP. These ideas include promoting a positive learning environment, providing support systems, and developing trauma-informed policies and practices. By implementing strategies based on appreciative inquiry, the OIP aims to enhance the organization\u27s overall effectiveness and promote learner success. The success of the OIP will be evaluated through ongoing feedback mechanisms, including surveys and focus groups, using an empowerment evaluation approach that focuses on outcomes, processes, and participation. Additionally, retention rates, learner engagement, and learner empowerment will be tracked to assess the impact of the plan. Overall, this OIP seeks to create a more supportive and inclusive learning environment that fosters transformation, empowerment, growth, well-being, retention, and engagement for adult learners who have faced trauma

Simulation Modeling of Particleboard Density Profile

Particleboard properties are affected by the vertical density profile among other factors. To predict or model board properties, one needs to determine the density profile. A simulation model was developed in this study to model the vertical density profile by simulating the hot pressing process of a particleboard. Temperature and moisture content profiles during hot pressing in the thickness direction of a pressed mat and the influential factors affecting wood compressibility were modeled such that they can be determined at any moment of pressing. The models developed allow calculations of the profiles to be carried out by either the finite difference method or an alternative approximation method presented herein. The density profile was modeled based on the compressibility and the resulting strain of each layer of the board thickness due to pressing

Modeling of Strength Properties of Structural Particleboard

The strength properties of structural particleboard are critically important factors. In designing a particular particleboard, a series of experiments can be run to determine the effect of a particular combination of factors. Modeling could be used as an alternative approach. Simulation modeling is one of the modeling techniques that can be fast and cost-effective. Structural particleboard was modeled in this study as a multilayer system that consists of a number of thin and uniform layers that exhibit different strength properties between layers, but the same properties within each layer. The effective modulus of elasticity of a board is a resultant of the combined effect of the modulus of all the layers. The modulus of rupture was obtained by determining the ultimate force or maximum moment during the simulated bending test. Internal bond strength was modeled using a modified regression equation

A global evaluation of multi-model ensemble tropical cyclone track probability forecasts

At the Met Office, dynamic ensemble forecasts from the Met Office Global and Regional Ensemble Prediction System (MOGREPS-G), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Ensemble (ECMWF ENS) and National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Ensemble Forecast System (NCEP GEFS) global ensemble forecast models are post-processed to identify and track tropical cyclones. The ensemble members from each model are also combined into a 108-member multi-model ensemble. Track probability forecasts are produced for named tropical cyclones showing the probability of a location being within 120km of a named tropical cyclone at any point in the next 7-days, and also broken down in to each 24-hour forecast period. This paper presents the verification of these named-storm track probabilities over a two-year period across all global tropical cyclone basins, and compares the results from basin to basin. The combined multi-model ensemble is found to increase the skill and value of the track probability forecasts over the best-performing individual ensemble (ECMWF ENS), for both overall 7-day track probability forecasts and 24-hour track probabilities. Basin-based and storm-based verification illustrates that the best performing individual ensemble can change from basin to basin and from storm to storm, but that the multi-model ensemble adds skill in every basin, and is also able to match the best performing individual ensemble in terms of overall probabilistic forecast skill in several high-profile case studies. This study helps to illustrate the potential value and skill to be gained if operational tropical cyclone forecasting can continue to migrate away from a deterministic-focused forecasting environment to one where the probabilistic situation-based uncertainty information provided by the dynamic multi-model ensembles can be incorporated into operational forecasts and warnings